Overview of SMS in CIC

This section covers:

• How CIC supports SMS

• Understanding and choosing SMS Brokers

• Recover of SMS Interactions in Switchover

SMS stands for Short Message Service. SMS allows users to exchange text messages between cell phones, e-mail accounts, and CIC user accounts. SMS messages can be up to 160 characters long when Latin alphabets are used. When non-Latin alphabets such as Arabic or Chinese are used, SMS messages are limited to 70 characters.

SMS operates over voice networks and uses available voice bandwidth to send messages. In Europe and Asia, SMS messages are usually sent over the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). GSM is a system for analog voice with modulated digital capabilities built in. SMS messages in the USA are sent over CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), which transmits digital information as a radio signal. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is gaining popularity as it is faster and packet-driven instead of time-driven.